Cohen said, “You want jokes, I’ve got plenty. Worked my way through college doing summer shtick at the Pioneer Country Club in the Catskills.”

Another bout of coughing, followed by wheezing. “It starts in the prostate, you’d think you could at least breathe … the new Richard wasn’t limited to changes in clothing and mood. He’s barely sat down when he’s going on about to hell with the business, to hell with the girls’ trust funds, they’re spoiled enough. I said, ‘What happened, Richard?’ He said, ‘Nothing, I just finally got smart, I’ve got enough dough, don’t need to be working for a couple of brats.’ I say, ‘Richard, I understand your frustration, but let’s not forget what they went through, losing their mother. Maybe it’s better to wait before making changes.’ ”

Cohen sat up straighter. “That’s when he said—and there was fire in his eyes—he said, ‘To hell with them and their mother, Earl. It’s time for a change.’ I was taken aback, but okay, the man’s been through a lot, he’s riding an emotional roller coaster, I see it all the time in people, anger at the victim. True, Doctor?”

I said, “Absolutely.”

Cohen said, “Then all of a sudden, the anger’s gone and something strange has taken its place. He’s grinning ear-to-ear. Glee. Smugness. Repeats ‘To hell with their mother.’ Just in case I missed it the first time. Not even using her name, which he always did in the past. Now it’s ‘their mother.’ To hell with their mother. He’s distancing himself from Ursula as a person, smirking, chuckling. Letting me know he couldn’t care less that she’s dead. Worse, he’s happy about it. I mean, the man is chuckling about the murder of someone he professed to love.”

Milo said, “Weird.”

“Oh, it was, Lieutenant. Then to top it off, he says, ‘You know, Earl, sometimes things just work out great’ and winks at me. Then he starts barking orders at me, I need to organize his papers, figure out the best way to dissolve the company, do it immediately. I say, you’re sure about this? And he laughs and winks again and says, ‘Happy endings, Earl, happy endings.’ As if we’re sharing his nasty secret and he thinks I’m not free to divulge it because he’s my client.”

Milo said, “You think he had something to do with Ursula’s death.”

“I don’t know,” said Cohen, “but it gnaws at me. How triumphant he was, as if he’d pulled something off. I’ve worked with enough clients to be a pretty good amateur psychologist myself, and I couldn’t help think the real reason Richard asked for the appointment was to brag.”

He shook his head. “If I’m wrong, so be it. If I’m right, to hell with him.”